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As sponsors of The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey Enterprise Awards we celebrated Irish fortitude and the extraordinary hard work of entrepreneurs in Donegal who are forging their own paths in business.

Despite tough economic times, hundreds of independent business have been set up with the help of the Back To Work Enterprise Scheme, from the Donegal Local Development Company. At The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey Enterprise Awards we celebrated 12 of this unique businesses and awarded four entrepreneurs with prizes to help grow their companies.

Each candidate reminded us of Patrick Sarsfield and his followers, who left Ireland in 1691. They showed great courage and determination and worked hard to be successful abroad in their host communities. However, they kept Ireland in their hearts and took the name ‘The Wild Geese’ in the hope and belief that they would one day return home.

Today, honouring ambitious and hard working individuals continues The Wild Geese story which is now synonymous with Irish fortitude. All of the candidates continue to show the same great courage and determination displayed by The Wild Geese in 1691.

The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey Enterprise Award winners

Iain Miller – Unique Ascent Outdoor Adventure Company
Approved under the Back To Work Enterprise Allowance scheme in 2011, the last three years have been busy for Iain, a qualified mountain instructor. He has created ten part-time jobs and has plans to create up to twenty jobs, taking people to explore donegal’s most beautiful, remote and wild places. He has developed the ‘Donegal Climbing App’ and 17 online guides.

Iain thanked the DLDC and The Wild Geese for the recognition adding, ‘Without the support of the Back To Work Scheme I would never have been able to become self employed in the services I provide in this current climate. In the past year I have taken over 150 national and international to a shade over 100 summits’

John Paul Boyle and Kevin Boyle – uPilot Teoranta: Flight Simulator
Rural Donegal is not where you expect to find a company making flight simulators using cutting-edge technology, but that’s exactly what John Paul and Kevin are doing. At the moment they’re developing a Boeing 727-800 series simulator. They’ve won a six-month contract for a simulator at Dublin Airport, and hope that trial will secure a three year deal.

Diarmaid Whoriskey – Rathmore Mechanical Services
Diarmaid and his business partner TJ set up under the Back To Work scheme after being made redundant in 2009. They offer heating, plumbing, ventilation, air-conditioning and ironworks services and they’ve been busy, despite the recession, employing between six and twelve people. Diarmaid has secured major contracts throughout Ireland. Las month they secured their biggest contract so far.

Diarmaid said:
‘On behalf of Rathmore Mechanical Services Ltd we would like to thank The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey for sponsoring the enterprise awards 2014 in conjunction with Donegal Local development Company. It was an honour to receive both these awards which recognise small local businesses in the current climate’

Iain, John Paul, Kevin and Diarmaid will go through to the regional awards in Cavan in June and each received €500 to help grow their business.

But the calibre of each of the candidates was extremely high and to honour this we created a fourth award for Outstanding Achievement, presented to Diane Harvey from D’s School of Motoring and Training.

Diane set up her business under the Back To Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme in 2010 and offers a wide range of training for customers, from those preparing for the ‘Theory Test’ to those with disabilities such as brain injury and now the jeep and trailer lessons. She has a commitment to road safety and has helped organise a number of safety awareness events. For the past two years she has won the ‘National Road Safety Authority (NRA) Leading Lights Award’ for approved driving instructors.

Our Chairman, Mr Andre Levy, sat on the adjudication committee to select the winners of this year’s The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey Enterprise Awards, which celebrate entrepreneurs in the Donegal area who are forging their own paths in business.

Twelve businesses have been shortlisted for the awards which are for small enterprises set up under the Back To Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme run by Donegal Local Development Company (DLDC). Three winners will be presented with awards, £500 to help grow their businesses and will go through to the regional awards in Cavan in June.

On the adjudication committee were Mr Andre Levy; Jim Slevin, Chairperson of the DLDC; Mark Murray and Mary McHugh from the Department of Social Protection. Mr Levy said:

‘There are some remarkable individuals involved who’ve already had significant success and in some cases have already won awards for their business.
‘We all know that the business environment has been very challenging in recent years and I’m delighted The Wild Geese company is able to help celebrate this level of achievement in Donegal’

The Tipperary is the oldest Irish pub in London. Steeped in Irish heritage, it has been a haven for Wild Geese for hundreds of years and a remarkable taste of home. And now we’ve flocked behind the bar! Yes, The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey is now served in London’s oldest Irish pub, just in time for St Patrick’s Day!

The Tipperary was first built in 1300, on the side of a monastery where the monks brewed ale.

In 1605 it was transformed into ‘The Boar’s Head’. It’s stood the test of time, surviving the Great Fire of London having been built of stone and brick, rather then wood.

It came under Irish ownership in around 1700, becoming the first Irish pub outside of Ireland. It was fitted out in traditional Irish style, including a clock by Thomas Tompion.

Following the First World War, the printers returning from the war had the pub named ‘The Tipperary’, inspired by the war song, ‘It’s A Long Way’, and the name remains today.

Today The Tipperary is run by Steve Rowlands, who has a huge passion for fine spirits. The interior retains the original Irish character and behind the bar now sits The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey Collection. It’s a great place to enjoy The Wild Geese this St Patrick’s Day!

The owner of The Tipperary Steve Rowlands with The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey Collection.

When The Wild Geese left Ireland in 1691, they believed they were securing the freedom of the country. They held their heads high as they boarded ships at Limerick having chosen exile for the good of their people.

Inspired by their courage and commitment to Ireland, we are contributing to Donegal’s Back To Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme. In tough economic times, it’s important to display the same camaraderie as Patrick Sarsfield and his followers.

Named ‘The Wild Geese Enterprise Award’ this scheme will help generate local business and help to revitalise the local economy. The Wild Geese Company Chairman, Mr. Andre Levy explains:

‘The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey celebrates the courage and determination of the Irish people when faced with adversity, and their successes and achievements. It’s important that we also celebrate and encourage local individuals in Ireland who have fought through hardship to succeed. Schemes such as The Back To Work Enterprise Allowance in Donegal, where unemployment has been a major problem, offer the support and advice needed to allow individuals to forge their own path in business in Ireland rather than overseas’

The CEO of the Donegal Local Development Company Ltd, Dr Caoimhím Mac Aoidh, adds:

‘DLDC is delighted to accept this considerable and most generous sponsorship support from The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey. We recognise their sponsorship of The Wild Geese Enterprise Award is acknowledgement and admiration for the participants of the Back To Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme who have shown great courage and tenacity in setting up their businesses in such challenging times. Our partnership with The Wild Geese in this instance is an excellent one as that company has similarly proven to have great business acumen in developing their company and product range’

We’re very proud to be returning to the Tip O’Neill Award as sponsors.

The award has been established to commemorate the life and achievements of US Speaker Tip O’Neill and celebrate the achievements of members of the diaspora who exceed expectations in the their chosen field. Much like Tip O’Neill did.

O’Neill fought for the Irish diaspora in the United States, by encouraging migration to the country, where Irish people could enjoy the same opportunities that he had experienced – to be the best that you can be. He served as Speaker of the US House of Representatives for ten years.

This year’s recipient is Brian Schweitzer, who served as Governor of Montana in the USA from 2005 – 2013. He is being recognised for his work in this role. As Governor, Me Schweitzer holds one of the highest approval ratings in US politics.

This Award proves that Wild Geese are still making an impact in all corners of the world and we’re very happy to be a part of this gathering. The Governor will be presented with a bottle of The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey.